• Wooster@startrek.website
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    1 year ago

    He amplified his crackdown on soaring prescription drug costs, hidden fees for cable and air travel and corporate “price-gouging.” He also promised to “keep fighting to bring down costs.”

    Following the links the above quote, the CNBC articles suggests we can expect progress on the first two items (prescription drug costs and hidden fees), but there’s nothing I read in the linked article about dealing with price gouging other than some stern words. Maybe something is indeed in the works, but it wasn’t obvious to me at the least.

    Instead of taking a routine victory lap, the president doubled down on the war, pledging to do himself what the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes have not: Make things cheaper.

    […]

    It is a marked tone shift from the president’s typical reactions to positive inflation data.

    I do appreciate this narrative shift—transitioning from tone-deaf/gaslighting to acknowledging that key issues still aren’t addressed.

    • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Democrats know all they have to do is say the right things and people will keep voting.

      Biden has no intention of doing anything meaningful on inflation.

        • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Neither of the choices you’d vote for are viable either, unless all you care about is war spending.

          I will be voting third party.

          • SeedyOne@lemm.ee
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            1 year ago

            Today on Lemmy, which is dumber?

            -Distilling an entire presidency to what happens in proxy wars (the RU one admittedly being an amazing deal for the US against a long term adversary).

            -Voting third party in '20/'24

            • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              the RU one admittedly being an amazing deal for the US against a long term adversary

              You chickenhawks say the same things about every war. I remember 2003 when Iraq was going to last six months and cost 30 billion. “Mission Accomplished”. Back then you told us it was a bargain because Saddam had uranium.

              Voting third party in '20/'24

              What’s dumb is seeing 40 years of conservative outcomes and the progression of fascism under a Democratic president and then telling us to do more of it.

              • EatATaco@lemm.ee
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                1 year ago

                Back then you told us it was a bargain because Saddam had uranium.

                I don’t remember this, care to provide some justification? The way I remember it is that Americans were tricked into being afraid of Saddam and his WMD and it was sold as a preemptive move to a bunch of people still reeling after the 9/11 attacks.

                Russia is actually a major adversary, this is not secret. They are also acting like aggressive imperialists. I would be hesitant to get boots on the ground, but helping Ukraine defend itself is both a win for us, and the right thing to do.

                I don’t see how they’re really comparable.

                • whofearsthenight@lemm.ee
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                  1 year ago

                  Holy shit I’ve argued with you a few times, this comment is actually something I can totally agree on.

          • Okkai@lemm.ee
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            1 year ago

            Which one are you voting for?

            I’d like to find a viable 3rd party candidate that can win the presidential election and disrupt the 2 party system we currently have.

  • csm10495@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    He has no power to do anything really. I’m starting to think more socialism makes sense. I kind of want profit limits on certain essential sectors like food, medicine, probably others.

    I’m tired of hearing about how company X made 3 billion more this quarter than last year. It’s one thing to be profitable and make something, it’s another to give it all to the execs and make consumers eat more year after year.

    Raising prices to raise profits when you’re still profitable is ridiculous and greedy.

    I don’t see how Biden could fix the situation on his own. It needs a massive change.

    • guacupado@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Exactly. Nothing short of some socialism is going to fix this when companies can increase prices as much as they want. Current generation kids will say “well the fair market means someone will lower prices and everyone else will have to follow or lose customers.” Adults know that all that’s happening is everyone is raising prices across the board since they all win.

  • dragonflyteaparty@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I’ll never get articles like this. First off, Biden, specifically, is the one creating a price war? Huh, only him. No one else is engaged in any way, shape, or form.

    Second, oh, he’s only doing it because of the election. How do you know that? What proof do you have other than timing? Did you read his mind? That’s a guess at best.

    Third, why does the president always get all the blame or all the praise no matter what? We don’t have a dictatorship (however much some people want us to). This has always seemed to be such bullshit to me. I hate how people act like the president is to blame for every single bad thing that ever happens that’s even tangentially related to the government and given all the praise when other parts of the government did things that the president has nothing to do with.

    Four, there’s so much bias on this article that basically just says “Biden bad even though he’s trying to help. Doesn’t matter. He’s still bad.”

    • Wooster@startrek.website
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      1 year ago

      I mean, it’s not anything special to presidency. With concerts, it’s the conductor that gets the praise… with companies, it’s CEOs, with sports it’s usually coaches.

      We’re not good in general at remembering the individuals, let alone acknowledging them and their cog in the machine. A flaw to be sure, but a universal one.

      That said, I certainly agree with the sentiment, the wrong people do get the praise and blame for those under their authority.

      • MotoAsh@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Well, I dunno’ about a universal problem, but it’s definitely a nasty little thing stuck in the craw of the social zeitgeist.

        I genuinely blame it on corporate media. They NEVER simply describe events and must sensationalize and narrativize everything. It gives credibility to what would otherwise be judgemental gossip, and people latch on and follow suit because of the sense of formality the “news” gives it.

    • Surp@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Well said but 50%-60% of everyone else is fucking stupid. You can’t fix stupid.

    • Sendbeer@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Cable companies having a monopoly on internet in most areas affect almost everyone and should be dealt with though (it won’t be though).

      • Jorn@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        If you look at other countries like Germany you can get high speed 400mbps for around $30-35 a month. Fiber isn’t as available in a lot of areas but it is expanding and you can get 1000mbps for $45 a month.

        US cable companies are price gouging customers so bad. And that’s all while getting money from the government to fund their infrastructure expansions.

    • RGB3x3@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      “People are paying too much for television packages and don’t have options to change it!”

      “Yeah Grandpa, we figured this out in 2010.”

    • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I used to think that was the dumbest shit a democratic administration would embrace…

      Then they started unironically using the term “Bidenomics” like making people associate Biden and Regan was a good thing.

      Like, if 20 years ago someone said in 2024 both candidates for US president would be ripping off Ronald Regan Id have laughed in your face.

      But we’re really fucking there, and at this point no democratic voter has a say of in it

  • distantsounds@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    A dozen eggs costs over $6 still. This is after the industry was called out for gouging 15-20 years ago AND after the bird flu panic raised prices a year or 2 ago (that was found to be BS too). He ain’t gonna do anything. He is another “chump block” for big biz, but at least he’s not Trump. I’m so tired of all this edit: some pics of the egg prices here today

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    But funding genocide isn’t unaffordable…

    Got plenty of billions to give to Netanyahu to continue his genocide of Palestinians no matter what. Just not enough for Americans to have stuff like healthcare or retirement.

    Nope.

    Gotta have priorities, it’s not like we could ask the wealthiest to pay their fair of taxes either. Just think of all the donations politicians like Biden would lose our on!

    • ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      What the fuck are you talking about? Biden and the Democrats are the only politicians trying to tax the rich, get people healthcare, and keep Medicare funded. Blame the Republicans that stop them every time. It has nothing to do with not being able to afford it.

      • assaultpotato@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        Yea the US could sacrifice zero dollars in defense budget and still provide adequate service to the population. Healthcare is cheaper when it’s not being profiteered by insurance middlemen, and private companies pricing is really hard to influence directly without something like a price fixing lawsuit.

        But hey gotta maintain the “democrats are just as bad” image.

      • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Yes.

        If you pretend the only two options are Republicans or Moderate Dems, then the moderate Dems are the only ones doing anything.

        They’re throwing glasses of water on the fire while your house burns down and stopping for five minutes between glasses to demand you praise them.

        And that is the two party system. And only the two parties can change it.

        Which is why Bernie has spent decades trying to get a progressive movement going. And it’s finally happening.

        So now we have some democrats willing to fix shit.

        But don’t just lump everyone with a “D” next to their name into the same group.

        So I’ll go back to blaming the Republicans when Republicans make shit worse.

        And I’ll keep blaming moderate Dems when they refuse to fix anything once in power. Even the rare things they do fix, it’s still less than what Republicans break.

        Keep it up, shit keeps getting worse. It’s just hitting a couple branches on your way down. It’s ain’t even a parachute, sure as shit isn’t preventing the fall.

        • ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Everyone with a D by their name is in the same group. That is what a two party system means. There are no moderate or progressive Democrats. There are just Democrats. Sowing division amongst Democrats only helps Republicans.

          • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Having standards is sowing division!

            Manchin and FDR are exactly equals!

            If there’s a D by the name we must support everything they do!

            • ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              Get the Republicans out of power. Then you can criticize the Democrats all you want. That is all that matters. They are an existential threat.

              • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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                1 year ago

                Don’t criticize Joe during the primary!

                Don’t criticize Joe during the general!

                Dont criticize Joe his first two years, he’s still getting things going!

                Don’t criticize Joe year three, an election is coming!

                Looks like that’s it for now, but I have a pretty good idea what comes next

                Either we repeat those steps again, or you’re actually right and Republicans are in power, then we still can’t criticize him.

                When exactly are we allowed to disagree with our politicians again? I knew Republicans stopped long ago. But I honestly missed the memo democrats are doing it now too.

                Think I’ll pass tho, it looked to work out pretty bad for Republicans

    • WarmSoda@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Military budget has nothing to do with prescription drugs and groceries.

      • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Wait…

        You think the 15 billion Biden wants Israel to have is coming out of the defense budget?!

        https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/20/us/politics/bidens-funds-israel-ukraine.html

        You think any of the billions we give them annually is being taken away from the DoD?

        Ludacris.

        The military budget isn’t paying for that.

        It’s getting added to our debt, which will then prevent moderates and Republicans from supporting shit like universal healthcare or tax cuts to the least wealthy

        Gotta say, didn’t think I’d have to break that down. Thought everyone in a political sub would understand

        • Jerbattimus@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          If you think that Republicans are against universal healthcare and progressive tax structures because the national debt is too high, then I also have a bridge to sell you.

          They don’t support those things because it’s evil, evil socialism and makes rich people slightly less rich. Even if the debt was $0, they’d still oppose things like that. It’s who they are.

          • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Both groups will use any excuse not to do those things.

            But an extra 15 billion in addition to the like 1.5 billion Israel always gets is going to give them a great big debt to point to. And they won’t take that from defense spending.

            It will be used to justify cuts to other shit we actually need.

            When they don’t have a plausible excuse, theyre less like to get re-elected.

            It’s why Netanyahu’s government doesn’t want to get rid of Hamas. They’d still do all the fucked up shit they always do, Hamas is just the best excuse they have

            And debt is the best excuse “moderate” Dems have for standing lockstep with Republicans against progress.